What Should We Do with Heretics?

Back in 107 A.D. there was a man, Ignatius, trained by the Apostles to serve as an elder or deacon. Ignatius as he was being sent to his death by Rome for being a Christian became very concerned about the heretics amongst the believers. In order to prevent heresy from diluting and perverting the faith, Ignatius set up a council of elders over all the churches.

This was Ignatius' "brilliant" plan to prevent heresy. The only problem with Igantius' brilliant plan was what if someone heretical weaseled themselves into the favor of the council of elders, was promoted to that position, and then found to be heretical? What if the church did not realize the heresey spread right beneath their noses until decades had passsed?

In fact, that was percisely what happened. The church detiorated into the clergy and laity divide because someone who was heretical came into the church and taught about Apostolic Succession. The council of elders supported and adopted this belief because it put them in charge and in control over everyone else. Some people were questioning whether the council of elders was Biblical and in that moment they were banned heretics, though the idea is anti-biblical, and the idea of Apostolic Succession took root. Apostolic Succession means roughly, "Since we were appointed by the apostles before us we know best."

In fact they believe they know better than the Apostles before them. Which is heretical because the first apostles were disciples of Jesus. That would mean that the Apostles today by conclusion think they know better than Jesus Christ. Anyone who asserts their own opinion, life, or way of doing something above Jesus Christ and the Bible is a heretic at best. Fortunately many "elders" and "apostles," known as bishops, have kept most of the root principles of the Bible.

Was this the only way to avoid heresey in the church? Or could Apostlic Succession and heresey in the church have been avoided another way? It seemed that Paul had no trouble discerning and controlling heretics within the church. Paul had a very simple premise, if a person is found to be heretical throw him out of the church. Paul also believe to test a person for a long time as an apprentice before ever allowing them to have a place of authority. Again the authority was not a position, but rather an association. If the association ended due to heresey that person no longer had a place in the church or a standing.

Paul was teaching Timothy about heretics since Timothy had proven himself worthy to be an apostle. He was proven worthy of good standing and allowed to be one of their association, but again it was not a position. 1 Timothy 1:18-20 explains Paul's guidance on how to handle heretics,

"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme."

We see in Scripture that Paul handing a person over to Satan was to put them out of the church fellowship. This was in hope and prayer that the person would get sick of their sin and the trouble it brought them and repent. We see in a few cases mentioned in the Bible where this worked.

In 1 Timothy 3 we see mention of the guidelines by which overseers and deacons should live. An overseer also includes an elder, by the way. When reading the passage you may note that most "elders" and "deacons" and "pastors" do not even come close to what Paul would approve as a workman.

How then do you correct a heretic if they be amongst your fellowship? We see heretics today with their own flockings, same as in the time of Paul, or actually a part of church leadership. I believe this greatly disappoints Christ. Paul's advice to heretics in a church was to gently instruct them of the truth and if they still do not listen to cast them out of fellowship. Not bribe them with church leadership or appoint them before their character has been tested throughly.

In fact, one thing Paul advised above all other things when dealing with a heretic was to not lose hope but to trust in God that He will take care of the matter. We see Paul's advice concerning this in 2 Timothy 2:16-19. Notice that he mentions the same man, Hymenaeus. Later in the chapter (v. 24-26) we see the instruction to teach,

"Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

"And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

God knows who are His so what do we have to fear? The council od elders, which gave bith to the institutional church we know today, was born out of fear and lack of trust in God. We need to go back to the way Christ intended the church to be. A church that relied and trusted in God instead of the men who claimed to be appointed by Him. I am not saying that all are not appointed by God. I am saying that some are appointed by God and some are not.

We need to teach heretics the truth and if they will not listen to the truth, then we need to throw them out of our fellowship! It is our duty not to allow someone to act as an elder in our body until they have been tested for a long time and proven worthy. Our duty to never allow someone to act as an elder when they do not have the character instructed for them to have in 1 Timothy 3.